E-sceal 535 - Irish Exemption – What to consider
- Published: 08 November 2018
A revision of the Circular 0012/1996 regarding when to grant an exemption from the study of Irish to a pupil was issued in June 2009. However, the guidelines in Circular 0012/1996 have remained the same - it is how we interpret them that is the key issue. What does this mean for you as Principal?
- No child can be exempt from the study of Irish simply because they have difficulty - in the same way that we do not exempt children from Maths or English if they are struggling. Class teachers must differentiate as they do under normal circumstances
- If the child has a specific learning disability, then of course exemption may be considered
- If a child has a recommendation from a qualified psychologist (dated not more than 2 years from the date of your application), stating that they qualify for an exemption, then the school can progress this exemption once parental request is received in writing outlining the grounds for exemption
- If a child has a significant hearing impairment - they may well be exempt
- If language interpretation is a difficulty - newcomer pupils should not automatically qualify for exemption. Many newcomer pupils have become proficient in our native language. This is a matter for a school/class teacher to monitor a child's progress and make a judgement based on how well a child settles and adapts to language. If there are difficulties - the school can make an informed decision based on observation and assessment. We all know that newcomer pupils have a silent phase when we cannot possibly make an informed judgement, so give the child reasonable time to adjust. Then you have reasonable justification. Document the reasons the reasons by which an exemption is granted or refused.
Sometimes the request is made on the basis that the child is experiencing anxiety because of having to learn Irish. This anxiety can often be related to written work or homework. It has been established that learning any language is helpful in acquiring competence in one’s first as well as additional languages. Determination of the reason for the anxiety with regard to Irish and differentiation may often alleviate this problem. Should the parent be adamant in pursuing the granting of an exemption, it may be referred to the DES Inspectorate to determine if the exemption is warranted.
Once you are agreed that a child needs an exemption based on SLD, psychological assessment or a newcomer who is not adjusting to language - you get parental consent. Certain career opportunities may not be available to a child who has been given an exemption and these need to be discussed with the parents/guardians. You must report the granting of the exemption to the BoM for ratification. Remember the number of exemptions granted must be accounted for in your Annual Statistical Returns. Give parents a copy of Exemption Cert - Your child may be granted an exemption if s/he meets the criteria of paragraph 1(c ) of the primary circular if your child attends a recognised primary school or the post primary circular where your child attends a recognised post primary school.
